2024 Adult E-bike Education Service Providers for Small Communities
HUB Cycling is excited to announce funding for e-bike and adult biking education throughout BC this year!
HUB Cycling is seeking proposals from providers to encourage and promote e-biking as transportation throughout the province of British Columbia, with a special focus on smaller regional centers, towns, and rural communities. The goal of the programming should also be to support new or prospective e-bike users in using them safely and confidently for everyday transportation.
HUB Cycling is specifically looking to support small-scale regional / community-based groups and businesses that want to provide in-person e-biking education opportunities in their communities this year.
Up to $35,000 of funding is available, with a maximum of $5,000 per proposal. Service provider proposals above $1,000 should include more than one course or event with an approximate maximum funding of $1,000 per course.
Approved service providers will have access to HUB Cycling resources, including optional e-bike curriculums and handouts and potential peer learning opportunities.
Funding is available to successful applicants for projects taking place from early June through to November 1, 2024. Please contact us via ebikeproposal@bikehub.ca to discuss if your education project or event is planned for after November 1, 2024.
Proposals will be evaluated on a rolling basis and accepted until June 7th, 2024
Successful proposal applicants will be contacted by early to mid-June
Important note on eligibility!
This request for proposals will be focussed on smaller and rural communities in BC which are outside of Metro Vancouver, BC.
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE
Eligibility Criteria
The funding should assist regional or community-based organizations and businesses in providing e-biking education opportunities in their community. The intent is to increase e-biking skills, knowledge, safety, and confidence for course or event participants. Course participants should be able to increase e-biking for transportation or recreation due to participation. HUB Cycling or academic evaluation partners will undertake post-program evaluations.
Eligible Organizations
To be considered eligible for this Program, service providers must be:
- A British Columbia-based regional / community non-profit, small business, or First Nations / Indigenous Peoples’ organization or group.
- Course activities must be located in British Columbia but outside of Metro Vancouver.
- An organization that supports and encourages e-biking and active transportation as part of daily life and community living.
- Bike shops or other cycling-related businesses if they are utilizing this opportunity for non-profit e-bike events or courses
- Have a bank account in the name of the organization.
Eligible / Ineligible Activities
- Funding will be prioritized for e-bike-related education courses or events that promote e-bike riding in rural or smaller urban areas.
- E-bike riders must be 16 years of age or older. Those under 16 are allowed as passengers in trailers or cargo bikes. See the Province of BC's webpage on e-bike regulations here for more details.
Eligible activities include:
- A public e-bike education course for adults and youth over the age of 16
- Try-it, or guided ride event promoting e-biking as transportation for people over 16
- Basic cycling skills and education course for participants 16+ using e-bikes
- E-bike ownership 101: course on use and/or basic maintenance for e-bike
- E-bike rentals for participants in courses or rides
Ineligible activities include:
- Purchase of an e-bike for individual or business use
- School-based education programs or day camps
- Courses or events that are not open to the public, such as a workshop for a staff team or members only
- Mountain biking events/courses that don’t promote e-bikes for transportation
- Online webinars, courses, or events occurring outside of British Columbia
Service Provider Requirements
Reporting requirements:
Report by Nov 30, 2024, on the number of courses, date, location, type of course, or short description of the course, number of attendees and spaces in each course (if space is limited), and participant contact information (emails if available). HUB Cycling will conduct a follow-up survey with course participants to collect program evaluation data. Successful service providers are asked to include supplementary information on HUB Cycling’s online e-bike courses on their event webpage(s).
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE
All proposals received by the deadline will be collectively evaluated based on merit and alignment with the program goals. Please review the material in this guide, especially the evaluation criteria. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
During the application window, HUB Cycling staff can answer any questions regarding the process, eligible activities, and costs. Please send any inquiries to ebikeproposal@bikehub.ca.
After the application window has closed, the HUB Cycling team will review proposals and make funding decisions. All applicants will be notified by the end of June.
Proposal Evaluation Process
Selection Criteria
- Projects resulting in measurable increases in cycling as transportation
- Projects that will be completed in the timeframe of the funding cycle
- Organizations that can demonstrate the ability to safely and effectively deliver cycling education to adults
- Preference will be given to projects promoting equity, diversity and inclusion:
- Diversity: The visible and invisible differences among people, including but not limited to gender identity, race, ethnic origin, age, place of residence, sexual orientation/identity, economic status, language, religion, education, and family / marital status.
- Equity: A strategy to promote fairness. Giving individuals the resources they need to be successful. Equity may include equal treatment or treatment that is different but is considered equivalent in terms of benefits, obligations, and opportunities.
- Inclusion: The practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or intellectual disabilities and members of other minority groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use this funding to buy an e-bike for my organization?
- No, this program is intended to promote e-biking through education. To assist with buying an e-bike, the Government of BC is offering rebates via the CleanBC Go Electric program for the purchase of electric-assist cargo bikes for organizations.
- Can we also seek corporate sponsorship or other funding for the e-bike events/courses we are planning?
- Yes, organizations can seek out matching or other funds from other sources toward the event/course. Match funding is not required though.
- Can there be a cost for participants in the event?
- Yes. However, the cost of participating in the course/event should be low enough to keep it as accessible as possible.
- If our proposal is accepted, how will we access the funds?
- To be confirmed.
Successful service providers will have access to resources such as an e-bike course curriculum, sample photo releases, and possible peer learning opportunities.
This program was made possible with the support of the Government of BC.
HUB Cycling is a not-for-profit, registered Canadian Charity. Donations and memberships help us administer our programs and projects. Please support our work by becoming a member.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A MEMBER HERE